Severe Weather Preparedness
Emergencies Can Happen Anytime - Are You Ready? 

  National Preparedness Month

National preparedness month is observed every September. It is a sponsored effort by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to encourage individuals to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, schools, and communities. To help the general public prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.

Why should you prepare??

Preparedness can reduce fear, anxiety, and losses that accompany disasters. You can also decrease the impact of disasters and sometimes avoid the danger completely!

As a team member of the MediSys Health Network, your level of personal and family preparedness helps enhance the overall preparedness efforts at the workplace. During an emergency, the health network relies on you to help sustain normal operations to continue serving patients.

National Weather Service Alerts

National Weather Service issues notifications in regards to many different types of severs weather: winter weather, hurricanes/coastal storms, tornadoes, lightning storms, flooding, earthquakes, etc. 
With the severe weather season officially underway, now is a good time to clarify the difference between the National Weather Service's different types of notifications: 

• Severe Weather Outlook — issued when a hazardous weather event is possible within the next week and are intended to raise awareness of the potential weather event, can lead to situations that may threaten life or property.
• Severe Weather Advisory – issued when a hazardous weather event is occurring, imminent for less serious conditions and generally cause inconvenience.
• Severe Weather Watch -  issued when a hazardous weather event has increased significantly, but its location or timing is still uncertain and its conditions are favorable for dangerous weather.
• Severe Weather Warning - issued when a hazardous weather event is  currently occurring in a nearby area and likely imminent in the warning area,  require immediate action and should be taken seriously.

By the time severe weather hits, it's already too late. Disaster preparedness is about having an established safety plan. Whether it's preparedness for floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, or fires, the key to survival in disasters is planning. Refer to our Personal and Family Preparedness Page for techniques on how to stay informed, make a plan, and most importantly—remain safe in an emergency.

Winter Weather 
Winter weather advisories begin when the potential for the presence of a winter storm occurs, and continues in the event that the weather implicate the potential to expand into the form of a Blizzard. 

National Weather Service defines both terms:

• Winter Storm - heavy snow of at least 6 in. over a 12 hour span, or at least 8 in. in a 24 hour span. An advisory for a winter storm will also be issued if the potential for sleet accumulation will be at least 1/2 an in. 
• Blizzard - occurs when conditions such as low visibility of less than 1/4 mi. due to falling and/or blowing snow, and winds of at least 35 mph are expected for a minimum of 3 hours.  

Winter storms create a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, and heart attacks from overexertion. Winter storms and blizzards can bring extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice, and high winds. A winter storm can:

• Last a few hours or several days;
• Knock out heat, power, and communication services; and
• Place older adults, young children, and sick individuals at greater risk.

IF YOUR AREA IS UNDER A WINTER STORM WARNING:

• Stay off roads.
• Stay indoors and dress warmly.
• Prepare for power outages.
• Use generators outside only and away from windows.
• Listen for emergency information and alerts.
• Look for signs of hypothermia and frostbite.
• Check on neighbors.

HOW TO STAY SAFE WHEN A WINTER STORM THREATENS:
Prepare Now

• Know your area’s risk for winter storms. Extreme winter weather can leave communities without utilities or other services for long periods of time.
• Prepare your home to keep out the cold with insulation, caulking, and weather stripping. Learn how to keep pipes from freezing. Install and test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups.
• Pay attention to weather reports and warnings of freezing weather and winter storms. Sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts.
• Gather supplies in case you need to stay home for several days without power. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including medication. Do not forget the needs of pets. Have extra batteries for radios and flashlights.
• Create an emergency supply kit for your car. Include jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothes, blankets, bottled water, and non-perishable snacks. Keep the gas tank full.
• Learn the signs of, and basic treatments for, frostbite and hypothermia.

Survive During

• Stay off roads if at all possible. If trapped in your car, then stay inside.
• Limit your time outside. If you need to go outside, then wear layers of warm clothing. Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
• Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Only use generators and grills outdoors and away from windows. Never heat your home with a gas stovetop or oven.
• Reduce the risk of a heart attack. Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow.
• Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia and begin treatment right away.
• Check on neighbors. Older adults and young children are more at risk in extreme cold.

Recognize & Respond

• Frostbite causes loss of feeling and color around the face, fingers, and toes.
  • Signs: Numbness, white or grayish-yellow skin, firm or waxy skin
  • Actions: Go to a warm room. Soak in warm water. Use body heat to warm. Do not massage or use a heating pad.
• Hypothermia is an unusually low body temperature. A temperature below 95 degrees is an emergency.
  • Signs: Shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, or drowsiness
  • Actions: Go to a warm room. Warm the center of the body first—chest, neck, head, and groin. Keep dry and wrapped up in warm blankets, including the head and neck.

Hurricanes/ Coastal Storms 
Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over warm ocean waters and move toward land. Potential threats from hurricanes include powerful winds, heavy rainfall, storm surges, coastal and inland flooding, rip currents, tornadoes, and landslides. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.

Hurricanes:

• Can happen along any U.S. coast or in any territory in the Atlantic or Pacific oceans.
• Can affect areas more than 100 miles inland.
• Are most active in September.

Prepare NOW

• Know your area’s risk of hurricanes.
• Sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts.
• If you are at risk for flash flooding, watch for warning signs such as heavy rain.
• Practice going to a safe shelter for high winds, such as a FEMA safe room or ICC 500 storm shelter. The next best protection is a small, interior, windowless room in a sturdy building on the lowest level that is not subject to flooding.
• Based on your location and community plans, make your own plans for evacuation or sheltering in place.
• Become familiar with your evacuation zone, the evacuation route, and shelter locations.
• Gather needed supplies for at least three days. Keep in mind each person’s specific needs, including medication. Don’t forget the needs of pets.

• Keep important documents in a safe place or create password-protected digital copies.
• Protect your property. Declutter drains and gutters. Install check valves in plumbing to prevent backups. Consider hurricane shutters. Review insurance policies.
• Turn on your TV/radio, or check your city/county website every 30 minutes in order to get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
• Charge your cell phone so you will have a full battery in case you lose power.​

Survive DURING

• If told to evacuate, do so immediately. Do not drive around barricades.
• If sheltering during high winds, go to a Storm shelter, or a small, interior, windowless room or hallway on the lowest floor that is not subject to flooding.
• If trapped in a building by flooding, go to the highest level of the building. Do not climb into a closed attic. You may become trapped by rising flood water.
• Listen for current emergency information and instructions.
• Use a generator or other gasoline-powered machinery outdoors ONLY and away from windows.
• Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters. Turn Around. Don’t Drown! Just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
• Stay off of bridges over fast-moving water.​
• Listen to authorities for information and special instructions.
• Be careful during clean-up. Wear protective clothing and work with someone else.
• Do not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. If it is safe to do so, turn off electricity at the main breaker or fuse box to prevent electric shock.
• Avoid wading in flood water, which can contain dangerous debris. Underground or downed power lines can also electrically charge the water.
• Save phone calls for emergencies. Phone systems are often down or busy after a disaster. Use text messages or social media to communicate with family and friends.
• Document any property damage with photographs. Contact your insurance company for assistance.

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Tornadoes 
Tornadoes can destroy buildings, flip cars, and create deadly flying debris. Tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air that extend from a thunderstorm to the ground. Tornadoes can:

• Happen anytime and anywhere;
• Bring intense winds, over 200 MPH; and
• Look like funnels.

 IF YOU ARE UNDER A TORNADO WARNING, FIND SAFE SHELTER RIGHT AWAY

• If you can safely get to a sturdy building, then do so immediately.
• Go to a safe room, basement, or storm cellar.
• If you are in a building with no basement, then get to a small interior room on the lowest level.
• Stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls.
• Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You’re safer in a low, flat location.
• Watch out for flying debris that can cause injury or death.
• Use your arms to protect your head and neck, and put materials such as furniture and blankets around you.​
• Do not try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle.
• If you are in a car or outdoors and cannot get to a building, cover your head and neck with your arms and cover your body with a coat or blanket, if possible.

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For additional information on severe weather preparedness click the links below: